There is a very real possibility that Briarlake ES and Henderson Middle Schools may become split feeders due to an overcrowded Lakeside High School. This means that Briarlake students could be split up and go to different middle and/or high schools (Druid Hills, Tucker, etc).

We are asking you to provide your input to DCSD via email --prior to the public proposal meetings on August 23rd and 25th.

DeKalb County now has $170 million in ESPLOST V funds to construct new middle and high schools to relieve overcrowding. Redistricting will most certainly come along with the construction of these new schools.

DCSD has held two rounds of public input meetings in spring/summer 2016, but many people missed the information about these meetings and were unable to attend; and therefore, Briarlake/Lakeside voices were not heard.

We now need everyone in our community to step up and send emails to influence the process.

It is imperative they hear from us now, before a proposal is put in place August 23rd. Please take 5-10 minutes to send an email now.

Here are the email addresses for the "public input process" and the DCSD board members:

The Briarlake community understands the immediate need to address current and projected growth and overcrowding at Cross Keys, Chamblee, Lakeside, Dunwoody, Tucker, and Clarkston, with particular concern for the limitations of the facilities in the Cross Keys and Lakeside Clusters.

We support the construction of new schools and addition to existing schools in order to accommodate population growth in Regions 1 and 2.

We specifically support allocating SPLOST resources towards providing new facilities for the children of the current Lakeside/Doraville/Cross Keys clusters.

Briarlake Elementary School (BES) has a long history of successfully serving economically, ethnically, and socially diverse student populations. In an era when many institutions are struggling with racial tension, Briarlake is diverse and successful. We uphold our diversity as one of our key strengths.

Briarlake ES is a community based school which thrives due to our diversity and cohesiveness. Consequently, we want all of our children to continue together through middle school and high school.

We do not support any proposal that would force some of our students to attend different middle and high schools than their classmates. In other words, we do not want Briarlake ES or Henderson Middle School to become split feeders.

We do not support any proposal that would force any of our students to move to a middle school or high school that is miles from their home and cause for longer school days. Lakeside High School is less then 1.5 miles from Briarlake Elementary School. Both Tucker High School and Druid Hills High Schools are farther away from Briarcliff than Lakeside, 3.4 and 5.4 miles away, respectively. This would cause for more bus routes and congestion on our already crowded roadways, not to mention additional bus expenses.

In addition, a split feeding elementary school and/or Middle School would also decrease property values. People value community and neighborhoods. Creating split feeders takes away the school community aspect from these great neighborhoods.

We ask DCSD to work with the Briarlake community on creative solutions to address the current and future projected overcrowding of Henderson MS and Lakeside High.

We support the construction of new Middle and High schools in the overcrowded areas.

We further ask to keep Briarlake as one middle school/high school feeder to Henderson Middle and Lakeside High. Keeping schools together helps strengthen communities.

We welcome opportunities to collaborate and contribute to a successful future for all of DeKalb County schools.